Fenter Street’s rich history

How Fenter Street got its name is anyone’s guess. There are various stories about why Fenter Street has the letter F instead of the letter V.

One story was when Thomas Fannin, a surveyor who laid out the town, visited Heidelberg in 1865. Fannin spelt the name wrong, and that name just stuck.

Another theory was Fenter Street got its name after the son-in-law of Mr DJJ Strydom.

Strydom was the original owner of the farm, Langlaagte. Mr JL Venter and Mr OA Strydom inherited the farm, Langlaagte, which later became Heidelberg.

A third theory is the British, who took over Heidelberg after the second Anglo-Boer War, spelt it as Fenter to mark that the English has taken charge of Heidelberg.

Various properties in Fenter Street have already received blue plaque status for heritage. One story is that President Paul Kruger owned one property on Fenter Street for his coachmen.

Fenter Street was a sought-after place for gatherings in the Transvaal.

It was the location for official festivities, also part of the official celebrations of the Union on May 31, 1910, from which date Heidelberg became a political seat in parliament.

According to Herbert Prins, JC Kriegler built most houses on Fenter Street.

JC Kriegler died during the Second Anglo-Boer War and laid to rest in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery. The cemetery is also on Fenter Street.

Johan Christiaan Kriegler (September 15, 1858, to June 9, 1900) was a teacher, transport rider, businessman and deacon of the Klipkerk in Heidelberg.

Kriegler moved to Heidelberg in 1870 and was one of the first volunteers to participate in the Second Anglo-Boer War.

They made him Veldkornet after the battle of Paardeberg and later Kommandant when they demoted Org Meyer.
Kriegler died because of a bullet wound he sustained while in battle at the Karee Siding on March 29, 1900.
One of Kriegler’s sons, Johan Kriegler, joined the permanent military force at 23.

In 1934, he qualified as a pilot in the SAAF. Johan Kriegler also attended numerous courses in England.

During World War Two, Johan served as a brigade commander in North Africa and Italy.

Johan had a son who made his mark in the South African law fraternity.

Johann Christiaan Kriegler became a Supreme Court judge of the South African Constitutional Court.

Kriegler was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court by Nelson Mandela and was also the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in South Africa’s first elections after the breaking down of apartheid.

References: Heidelberg Heritage Association; Wikipedia; www.geni.com, www.ruralexploration.co.za